Deputies: Tongue was not intentionally cut from horse

Associated Press

YELM — Authorities now say that a horse’s tongue found severed at a property in Western Washington was not intentionally cut off the animal.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has determined the horse’s injury was an accident “after considerable deliberation and several expert opinions.”

The 28-year-old horse named Annie was euthanized last week because the animal could not eat or drink without a tongue. The tongue was found severed in a pasture in the Yelm area.

From the preliminary necropsy results last week, the sheriff’s office had believed that someone cut the tongue from the horse.

Sgt. Carla Carter says the new findings indicate the tongue may have become lacerated from the lower front teeth and later fell from the horse’s mouth.